#54 Keep image/video gadgets handy for inspiring shots, recording a thought or just to have an excuse to be creative. Love this: http://tr.im/j52k

I love working with images, whether it’s shooting stills or recording video. If you’re like me, the biggest issue we’re faced with is finding the time to shoot like we used to. It wasn’t until I bought my iPhone and got a FLIP camera that I started shooting more, or at least I’m trying to. Carrying these items around has become quite fun!  I might see something in a store that I just love, a cool ad, or a funny scene - anything that jumps out at me as I go through my day - and now I take a quick snapshot or record my thoughts about what I’m seeing. Then, I can go and look back at that moment and capture the inspiration that originally hit me. Since I’m often running at a hectic pace, the inspiration would have been lost had I not captured it at that moment. Plus, it’s just plain fun having something handy to record with. I’ve tinkered with starting some type of video blog or an iPhone gallery…and I just might. Until then, I’ll start by keeping my inspirations on these handy little items.

What do you use?  Any samples?  Come on, don’t be shy…I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.

#53 Create education tune-ups by watching demo podcasts or videos. Or, do a quick group project to learn technology or techniques together.

It seems like every few months, one of our software products is being updated, or a popular new technique is discovered that is important for productivity. Fortunately, there are a ton of resources online that can be utilized, from Adobe to various podcasts. To get everyone up to speed, have your employees watch important presentations individually or as a group. Additionally, if you make time for them to learn during work hours, it shows your seriousness for continued education. However, if it’s a struggle time-wise during business hours, you can set up a company sponsored early morning breakfast and ask your staff to come in an hour early once or twice a month to brush up. You can make it mandatory, too.

During a project a designer may learn a Photoshop shortcut, Illustrator style, or new technique. Have them teach others in the company so they aren’t the only ones that can do it, but more importantly, to further everyone’s education. This would also be a great lunch and learn (see #52).

How do you encourage continuing education or staying on top of technology?

#52 Take time to learn from each other. Have regular lunch & learns and have someone on your team present about subjects that matter to them.

I constantly observe my team as they talk about things outside of our jobs. You’d be amazed at the insight you can gain listening to your employees talk about the latest book, TV show, movie, cool web site or social media tool, trends, celebrity break-up, social event or volunteer project. Often, our schedule is too hectic to have in-depth conversations and really dig-in to each other’s interests. But, it’s important to us. So, we schedule a monthly lunch to share our latest interests and hobbies with each other. This provides a great opportunity to launch discussions and learn about various topics that otherwise might go un-discussed. As a manager, you get to hear and learn more about what makes your team tick. You give others a chance to be the center of attention, work on presentation skills, learn new technologies, or simply take the lead. There are no limits to presentation methods – it could be as simple as coloring in a coloring book as a group, doing a craft project together, playing Play-Doh, or learning exercise and relaxation techniques that be used during the workday.

Whatever the size of your firm, be sure to schedule time to talk about stuff other than the subjects of your normal day. If you are a sole-proprietor, get some buddies together quarterly and do it – maybe over video chat. How you do it is not the important part. Learning and sharing knowledge is the key.

Try it, and tell us how it goes!

#51 Issue additional titles for employee initiatives like SMO - Social Media Officer - to encourage ownership and get things done.

As your firm grows or responsibilities change, you will soon find you can’t do everything. And sadly, it is easy to let things slip when you have plenty of work or you’re out trying to drum up new biz. We’ve found that the best way to keep information flowing and stay on top of things that are important is by aligning those tasks with others interests. For example, we have a designer who is very concerned and committed to getting us to be more ‘green’. So recently, the “Green Diva” took the lead. We talked about what goals I wanted and she related the things she was interested in. In a year’s time, we had an internal intranet with green terms and a checklist for our work. We began recycling more and developed goals and steps to reduce our carbon footprint. In addition, the “Green Diva” alerted me to talks, websites, resources and organizations we could join to raise awareness, support and follow-through.

This same result is happening with our social media footprint. We delegate responsibility for the various sites we’re on to different people depending on their area of interest. This way, we stay up to speed as participants, but also know about updates and changes that we can bring back to our clients.

Now, this all still takes time. You have to plan and be purposeful. But with a little practice and communication with your team, you can make it happen. If it’s just you alone, assign some of these responsibilities to days of the week or times of the day. Trust me, with some planning and discipline, it is possible.

#50 Intern programs provide the ability to give back, stay current, see diff approach, teach, challenge yourself & always have fresh coffee.

When I was a junior, I worked as an intern for 30 days. I felt like I learned more in those 30 days than I did in 3 years of school. I promised myself that if I was ever in the position to provide that experience for someone else, I was going to do it. I’ve kept that promise, and I’ve discovered that internships are one of the best ways for me to teach, expand my own art directing, and help foster the future leaders of the design field. I’ve also learned to face the challenge of communicating with students who don’t know what they don’t know. You know?

Having students in the studio also inspires us to ask different questions than we normally might, and at times, try things we typically wouldn’t try – because sometimes that exploratory instinct gets lost. Overall, internships can be a really great part of your studio, giving you that extra boost of energy that comes from teaching and listening to a younger creative. But like anything, the more prepared you are, the better. Take it seriously. Have a job description. If you’re going to really put them to work, then pay them something. And in all honesty, have them get you coffee or run an errand for you now and then. It sounds silly, but I truly believe that younger generations have developed this horrible sense of entitlement. A little humility or humbling now and then will prepare them for the upcoming reality of what we all face when presenting our ideas and living our design life.

Have you had any internship pros or cons? Do you have any additional tips or advice?

PS: I wrote a similar post for the Notes on Design blog - read that here.

June 2009 will mark the one-year anniversary I first gave “The Designer Sobriety” talk. Above is the opening video for the talk which highlights some of the spirit of this initiative. As a business owner and/or decision maker, a lot of things fly at you during the day. What do you do to manage it? How do you still try to enjoy it and just flat-out have a life outside of this crazy business that we’re in? The idea for this blog was born from wanting to share the various tips and advice we’ve learned, observed, or read about. Our posts are intended to be useful and inspirational. We’ll also share design-minded products we discover that you can implement and utilize to keep you going.

We hope you read, enjoy, share and comment. This community is only as good as its content and participation - so please be a part of it.